License tag supporting frame



Sept. 3, 1940. s. E. HEREN 2,213,909

LIQENSE TAG SUPPORTING FRAME original Filed Dec. 22, 193e 2"She`ts-sheex 1 Sept 3, 1940- s. E. HEREN LICENSE TAG SUPPORTING FRAMEoriginal' Filed nec. 22, 193e zlsneets-sheet 2` wue/wbO/v ,5. E HeraVIII-IWI).

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ VIZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII y Patented Sept. 3, 1940UNITED STATES arnese ement orties Application December 22, 1938, SerialNo. 247,260 Renewed May 23,1940

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved adjustable frame adapted tosupport license tags of various sizes by engagement with the edgethereof whereby the indicia thereon will not be obscured.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a frame for licenseplates channel shaped in cross section to engage the edge of the plateand provided with means whereby the frame may be longitudinally andlaterally adjustab-le for plates of different sizes.

More particularly, it is an aim of this invention to provide a licensetag frame adapted to securely engage the edge of the plate, at allpoints to eliminate rattling by preventing movement of the platerelatively to the frame or hold- Still a further aim of the invention isto provide improved means for adjustably mounting angle shaped cornermembers in a central supporting member and for adjustably positioningthe sections of the central supporting member relatively to each other.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a frame for licensetags of simple construction which may be economically manufactured andreadily applied to or removed from a license tag; by means of which thetag may be quickly and easily attached to or removed from a tagsupporting bracket of a motor vehicle; and 'which will increase thebeauty of a vehicle to which it is applied.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinater becomemore fully apparent from the following description of the drawings,which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the assembled frame,

Figure 2 is a rear .elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3 3 ofFigure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure3, A l

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken along the line5-5 of Figure'l,

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken along the line5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure '7 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken along the line'I-l of Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the line8-8 of Figure l.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, I0 designates generally the assembled li- (Cl.-Llil-12,5)

cense tag frame which includes the central supporting member, designatedgenerally iI and comprising the sections i2 and I3.

Sections I2 and I3'are each provided withalongitudinally disposedchannel shaped portion I4 having the corresponding elongated or enlargedback edges I 5. Projecting laterally from the back edges I 5,intermediate of their ends, are the shanks I6 and I1, respectively. Theside edges of the shank i6 are turned inwardly to form the channels I8adapted to slidably engage the edges of the shank I'I and to form atelescoping connection therewith. The central portion of the shank VI,on its front or exposed side is thickened, as indicated at I9, to lieflush with the inturned edges of the shank I6, for a purpose Which willhereinafter be described. Shanks I6 and I1 are provided with thelongitudinally disposed alined and communicating slots 2t.

A pair of angular or L-shaped cornerv members 2l have theircorresponding ends 23 slidably mounted in the ends of the channelportion I4 of the section I2, and a pair of similar shaped cornermembers 22 have their corresponding ends 24 slidably mounted in the endsof the channel portion ill of the section i3. Corner members 2l areslightly larger, in cross section, than corner members 22, and both thecorner members 2l and 22 are channel shaped in cross section and aredisposed with their free ends 25 and 25, respectively, projecting towardeach other so that the corner members 2l and 22 at corresponding ends ofthe central supporting member li have their lends 25 and 2@ intelescoping engagement, as best seen in Figure 5. It will thus be seenthat corner members 2l and 22 combine in pairs to iorm correspondingtelescoping U-shaped members 2l having their free ends slidably engagingcorre-` sponding ends of the channel portions l to form therewith arectangular frame channel shaped throughout.

'Ihe back edges l5 of the channel portions M are provided at each endwith a row of spaced openings 28 adapted to selectively receiveA thestuds or pins 29 one oi which is mounted in the back edge of each of theends 23 and 2li. Studs 29 are spaced from the free .ends of the portions23 and 2t and are disposed so that when in engagement with one of theopenings 28 the ends 23 and 2li will seat in the bottom of the channelportions Ill to prevent the corner members 2l and 252 from pivoting ontheir studs 29 and to be thereby rigidly mounted relatively to. thesupporting member il. A

A bolt 30 projects through the alined slots 2t and through a licenseplate supporting bracket 3|, and is provided with a nut 32by means ofwhich the license tag frame IIJ is removably ysecured tothe bracket 3l.Nut and boltv30 and 32, respectively, in addition to fastening the frameI to the bracket 3l also function as a clamping member to clamp theshanks I6 and I'I relatively to each other and in their adjustedposition, and it is for this purpose that the thickened portion I9visprovided to engage bracket 3| to force the shank II into clampingengagement with the intermediate portion of the shank I6, as best seenin Figure 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen, that the ends 23 .andl 24 of thecorner members 2I and 22 may be adjustably positioned relatively to thechannel portions Ill and secured in adjusted position by the studs29`and openings 28 to thereby adjust the length of the frame Ill tocorrespond to the length of the license plate, not shown, to be mountedtherein. It may be here stated that the 4material of which-the sectionsI2 and I3 are formed should be suncientlyresilient so that the backedges I may be sprung outwardly to receive the studs 2G, and tospringinwardly when released so that one of the openings 28 will move --intoengagement with each of the studs 29. In

the preferred manner of assembling and mounttudinal edges of the licenseplate are snugly seated after which by securely fastening the frame .I0

to' the bracket 3l, asv heretofore described, the

frame I0 is clamped in its adjusted position to securely hold thelicense plate. g

Various modications and changes in the precise construction .andarrangement of the parts forming the invention are contemplated and mayobviously be resorted to, and the right is therefore expressly reservedto make such modifications and changes as fall within the yspirit andscope of the invention as hereinafter dened by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. An article of the class describedcomprising .a frame formed oftelescoping sections, said sections having longitudinally disposed-channel shaped portions, -pairs of angle shaped channel members havingcorresponding ends engaging corresponding end-s of said channelportions,the

-free ends of `said angle members vbeing disposed `in telescopicengagement, and means for adjustably connecting said angle shapedmembers to said frame sections.

2. A license plate frame comprising a support formed of telescopingsections, said sections having longitudinally disposed channel portions,pairs of angle 'shaped end members, said pairs .of end members havingcorresponding -ends slidably engaging correspondingends of said channelportions, and said end members being channel shaped with the free endsof each pair intelescopic engagement to `form with the channel portionsof said support an endless channel shaped frame. A j

3. An article as in claim 2, said sections having laterally projectingshanks slidably disposed relatively to each other and provided withcommunicating slots adapted to receive fastening means adapted toconnect said frame to a license plate supporting bracket, and saidfastening lmean-s clamping said shanks for retaining said sections inadjusted position relatively to each other.

4. A license plate holder comprising pairs of L- shaped channel members,each of said pairs of L-shaped members having corresponding ends in'`telescoping engagement, a supporting `r member formed of laterallytelescoping sections, each of said sections having a longitudinallydisposed 1 1 ing to form an adjustable frame capable of being extendedlongitudinally and laterally.

5. vAn adjustable license tag frame comprising .a central supportingmember formed of sections,

each of said sections havingia longitudinally dis.- posed channel shapedportion, shanks projecting laterally from corresponding edges of saidchannel shaped portions, said shanks being disposed in .telescopicyengagement for laterally adjusting said sections, L-shaped channelmembers each -having an end in telescopic engagement with an end-of saidchannel portions, the free ends of the L-shaped members, mounted incorresponding U ends of said sections, being disposed in telescopicengagement to form with said channel portions a continuous frame,channel shaped in cross section, and longitudinallyand laterallyextensible.

'7. A license plate supporting frame comprising a central supportingmember formed of sections each having a longitudinal channel shapedportion, shanks projecting from the rear edges oi said channel shapedportions, the sides of one of said shanks being channeled to receive andslidably engage the sides ofthe` other shank, said shanks having alined`slots adapted to receive a clamping member for adjustably positioningsaid sections relatively to each other, the back edge of said channelportions being provided with: a plurality of spaced openings at eachend,` L- shaped cornermembers each having an end in telescopicengagement with an end of said channel portions, and said ends beingprovided with studs to selectively engage said openings for adjustablypositioning said L-shaped members relatively to the centralsupporting'member, said L- shaped members being channel shaped in crosssection, the free ends of the L-shaped members, disposed inthef-co-rrespondingends of the channel shaped portions, being disposedintelescopi-c engagement to thereby form a rectangular frame, channelshaped in cross section, and adapted to receive the marginal edge of alicense plate.

8. A license'plate holding frame comprising a pair of U-shaped memberschanneL shaped in lcross; section, said U-shapedzmembers eachbeilng 6.An extensible license plate supporting frame formed of a pair ofL-shaped members having their connected ends in telescopic engagement,the free ends of said U-shaped members being provided with Aoutwardlyprojecting studs, a central supporting member formed of telescopingsections, fastening means adapted to connect said central supportingmember to a license plate supporting bracket, said fastening meansclamping said sections in adjusted position, and said sections beingprovided With longitudinally disposed channel shaped portions providedwith rows of spaced openings at each end, the free yends of saidU-shaped members telescoping into en-ds of said channel shaped portionsand being adjustably positioned therein by positioning each of saidstuds in one of said openings to provide an endless frame channel shapedin cross section, and longitudinally and laterally extensible.

9. A license plate frame co-mprising a support formed of slidablyconnected sections, said sections having channel shaped end portions,pairs of angle shaped members each having corresponding ends slidablyengaging corresponding ends of said channel shaped end portions, and thefree ends of said angle shaped members being slidably connected to formwith said support sections an endless frame.

10. A device as in claim 9, said angle shaped members being channelshaped in cross sections, and means for retaining said sections andmembers in adjusted positions.

SOL E. HEREN.

